“Yuck. This tastes so bitter. What is it?”
The researcher smiled at Maddie watching the young woman’s face pucker in a twisted distortion.
“They’re dandelion roots and usually people respond to their bitter quality as you just did. However, some people quite enjoy the sharp tang when they bite into it.”
“Really? I think it tastes awful.”
Maddie had signed up to assist in the taste testing lab at the university where she attended. It was an easy way for her to earn a few dollars and also help someone with their research project.
Don picked up a pretzel stick, dipped it in one of the dishes and scooped some of the white sauce onto it. “Here, try this one.” He said.
“Yum. Now, this is good, really sweet. Gimme me more.” Maddie grinned.
The researcher laughed. “I would say, Maddie, your taste receptors are pretty common to most people.”
“Taste receptors?”
“Yes. Our mouths have specific receptor cells that are bunched together in clusters. These are our taste buds. When we eat something, they send a sensation of the taste to the centre of our brainstem. Everyone is different. One in four people have a higher sensitivity to bitter and other tastes. Also individual preferences and perception of taste effects the food stimulating the tongue.
“Wow. That’s fascinating.”
“What’s even more incredible, just one taste bud has more than fifty taste cells that corresponds to our five sensations of taste, smell, sight, sound and feel.”
“Listening to you excites me.“ Maddie said. “As a Christian, I’m in awe of the complexity of how God created us.”
“I respect your faith, Maddie, but I’m a scientist. I’m not sure I believe in the concept of God.”
Maddie turned around in her chair and looked at Don, holding his eyes in hers. It shocked her to hear him say that. She wondered how Don could understand how the human body functioned, yet, have no concept of its Creator.
“C’mon Don, you can’t tell me you do all these tests that reveal the intricacy of our bodies and then say you don’t believe in the One who made them?”
“Sorry Maddie. I’m a scientist. I look for facts and reasons why things are the way they are.”
“Ok then Mr. Scientist, how did we humans get here to begin with?”
Don cleared his throat. “Not sure. I have a few theories?”
“Like what?”
“Combustion, cell division, molecule transformation.”
Maddie burst out laughing. “Really Don? You really think we are just a bunch of cells or molecules?”
Don straddled the stool beside Maddie’s chair. His soft blue eyes twinkled. “You want to convert me? Go ahead. Tell me your theories on creation.”
Maddie smiled at him, grateful for the opportunity to share her faith.
“Well,” Maddie began, hesitating at first and carefully choosing her words, “We are first and foremost a spirit. Our bodies are simply a shell, - a container for our spirits to move around the world in.”
“Hmmm. Interesting theory.” Don nodded, but he didn‘t seem very impressed.
“Don, God made us in His image. He formed each and every detail of our bodies and everything about who we are. He even knew us before we were born. The Bible tells us, “He knit us together in our mother’s womb.“ (psalm 139:13). We are fearfully and wonderfully made. What I love, Don, is after He did that, He breathed His life into us. We are as we are because of Who He is.”
Maddie’s face was radiant as she spoke.
Don gazed at Maddie almost as if he were studying her. In a tone filled with respect he finally spoke. “I think Maddie, your passion about this could convince me. I do see something in you when you talk about God. As you talk, there is joy, a peace, a gentleness written all over you.”
“Some things we see with our physical eyes, Don. Other things we can only know with our spirits. My hope for you, is that you will ‘taste and see that the Lord is good.’”

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